Bahraini girl reaches Everest base camp at 13

Manama : Making her country proud, a 13-year-old girl has become the youngest Bahraini to reach the Everest Base Camp. Juwan Abdulkhaleq, an eighth-grade student, held her country’s flag high carrying the message “I raise you above the clouds” as she made history by reaching the South Base Camp in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 metres.

Juwan was a member of an expedition that included 20 other women, aged between 23 and 47, coming from Bahrain (13), Saudi Arabia, (3), Kuwait(4) and the UAE (1). The expedition, organised by the Journey Adventures, lasted 12 days and participants said they were impressed with Juwan’s strength, courage and fortitude. Rasha Yousif, the Bahraini adventurer who celebrated the New Year on top of the Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, said that everybody paid rich tribute to Juwan’s character. “She is a very special person and inspired us in many ways,” she said.

“Juwan is fortunate to have such supportive parents and family members, receiving tremendous encouragement from her school and classmates. During her preparations, her mother was with at her every step of the training process filled with a series of formidable challenges to strengthen her mental and physical endurance,” said Rasha Yousif.